Reviews

If Not Now, When? by Primo Levi

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wiktoriaszatann's review

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tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

chiaracorti's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective

4.0

Picked this book not knowing anything about it.

An excellent story telling a gripping tale of one man's attempt to survive through the bitterness and harsh environment of being a partisan Jew in WW2. Furthermore, it talks of the groups he joins along the way and the people that he meets. For Primo Levi, who was a captive Jew during the war, he writes the book to tell the tale of the fighter he wished he had been and whilst it is not a pretty story, one routes for Mendel and his companions on their journey to stand up for the Jews, understand the bitterness between Russians, Poles and Germans and begin to think about what life could be like for these people after the war.

tomg97's review against another edition

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challenging reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

At times, this book felt more like poetry than a novel - it contained lots of social political commentary disguised as conversations. It's a fascinating insight into an area of history which I was unaware of. I would thoroughly recommend to anyone interested in Jewish history.

Content Warnings

nicoleface_'s review

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dark reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

brannigan's review

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4.0

Historical fiction that reads like an action novel but feels more like non-fiction. I appreciate any work that deepens my understanding of the Jewish struggle during the Second World War; this story of fighting Jewish partisans’ journey from occupied Belarus to Italy, while not without its share of bleak misery, is an empowering antidote to the history of the death camps, and rounds out the Jewish experience in Europe.